Lug cap and glass thread



March 9, 1937. F. E. FUSTING ET AL LUG CAP AND GLASS THREAD Filed Oct. 11, 1932 Patented Mar. 9, 193'? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE more,

Md., assignors to Crown. Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1e32, Serial No. 637,344

1 Claim.

., ,This' invention relates to a threaded receptacle and a closure cap therefor.

More particularly, the invention comprises a novel form of; glass thread adapted to be formed 5' integrally upon. the neck of a receptacle. The invention also. includes a novel form of lug cap memento cooperate withthe new thread,

arr object of the invention to produce a r, e'ptacle andcap of the general type in which a: inwardly projecting lug formed on the lower ed'g'elof the cap skirt engages the undersurface ora' nradn on the receptacle neck, and in which means are provided for limiting the turning'n' ovement of the ,cap on the receptacle.

Preferably the receptacle is of the divided thread type in which a plurality of threads on the receptacle neck are interposed by short untfire'aded portionscircumferentially of the neck.

With receptacles of this general type, it is conventional practice to provide,'below the threaded portieri of the neck, a circumferential, laterally projecting rib or shoulder, and in the past, it has beenproposed to locate, on the undersurface (renames thread, a stop projection extending dewnwardly toward the circumferential shoulderl 'rne; moulding of an abutment member or s'topprqjection on theundersurface of a glass air in the space between the thread and the shoulderpresents certain manufacturing difiiocultie sjfandjitlis aiprimary object of the present invention toavoid these dificulties by eliminating the abutment in this particular location.

Consequently; it may be said that a primary amen of the invention is to retain all of the adwhich flow from the use of an abutment surface ona receptacle thread known to the pr or art, while avoiding the manufacturing diffieulties commonly encountered.

Inaccor'dance with one form of the present 46 invention, the leading or entering end of the tl'ireaditself constitutes the abutment surface to liniit tlie turning movement of the cap when the'samejisapplied to the receptacle. In this form, 'a' supplemental: stop lug is positioned on the cap skirt to contact the end of the thread. In as'econ'dform of the invention, the abutment projection is formed on the upper surface of the threadfaiidcooperateswith a specially positioned supplemntal'lu'g on the closure cap to perform the'sainefunction. Thus, in both forms of the invention-the use of a stop projection on the undersurfaceofth'e thread between the thread aii'd the receptacle shoulder is dispensed with.

Because of the fact that lug caps are generally initially applied-to-receptacles by' machinery, the

placing of the stop projection on the upper surface of the thread presents a problem. As is Well known to those skilled in the art, these machines position the caps upon the bottles and then rotate the caps to bring complemental lugs or threads on the caps and receptacles into engagement. If the upstanding stop projection of the present invention were provided with a substantially vertical or square abutment surface above the upper surface of the thread, difficulty would be encountered because the closure caps are often applied to the receptacles with the stop lugs resting on the upper surface of the threads, and if the machines imparted a turning movement to the closure caps while the lugs were so positioned, the lugs would abut the vertical or square stop projections with such force that disastrous results would follow. The lugs on the cap would either be mutilated or the stop projections on the threads would be cracked and broken.

In order to solve this problem, thepresent invention contemplates forming the abutment surface of the stop projection on the thread in inclined relation to the upper surface of the thread. As a result of this inclined dispositionof the abutment surface, the locking lugs on the closure cap, should they be positioned on the upper surface of the thread by the capping machine, will be guided upwardly over theprojection and will be permitted to drop downwardly at the end of the thread to enter under the next adjacent thread, Thus, it is impossible for the locking lug to jam the stop projection and damage either the cap or the thread, 7

The use of an inclined surface on the stop projection of the receptacle thread has the further advantage that it permits the part onthe receptacle with which it cooperates, to engage the projection in wedging relation. Consequently, the cap will be retained in locking position upon the receptacle against accidental displacement, because the tight wedged engagement between the cap and stop projectioncannot be disturbed without the application of deliberate turning force to the cap. I i

In the cap of the present invention the locking lug is preferably formed in the rolled or beaded edge of the cap skirt. Supplemental or stop lugs adapted to cooperate with the receptacle thread to limit the turning movement of the cap on the receptacle are provided, and these are preferably formed in the skirt of the cap, above the beaded edge. The provision of two sets of lugs results in the advantage that each set performs its own definite function with maximum efficiency. Obviously, the locking lugs are subjected to greater stress than the stop lugs, and they are, therefore, located in the beaded edge of the receptacle, and are reinforced and strengthened in accordance with the disclosure of the application above referred to. The stop lugs, which are subjected to only a slight strain, can well be formed from the single thickness of the material of the cap skirt.

Furthermore, and as stated above, the provision of two sets of lugs on the closure cap makes it unnecessary to position the glass stop projection on the undersurface of the receptacle thread, which location of the projection entails marked manufacturing difliculties.

In the accompanying drawing two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of receptacle thread and the closure cap adapted to cooperate therewith.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 25-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a second form of receptacle thread and a closure cap adapted to cooperate therewith.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the form of thread shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawing, a receptacle is shown, having a neck I 0, a laterally projecting circumferential shoulder I I, and a threaded portion I2 thereabove. The upper neck portion I2 is provided with two or more divided threads I3. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the thread I3 comprises an upper surface I4 disposed on a substantially horizontal line but inclined. outwardly and downwardly from the receptacle neck. This inclination may conveniently be substantially thirty-five degrees from the horizontal.

The under'surface of the thread I3 is provided with an inclined entering portion I5 and a substantially horizontal rear-portion I6. The inclination of the portion I5 is substantially ten degrees from the horizontal, circumferentially of the receptacle, and substantially ten degrees from the horizontal, radially of the receptacle. The ten degree radial inclination continues throughout the entire undersurface of the lug, and, although the rear portion I6 is horizontal circumferentially of the receptacle, it is inclined radially.

The leading end I! of the thread is gradually rounded off and merges with the receptacle neck at a slight angle so that the outer or radial surface thereof inclines outwardly from the adjacent neck portion.

The circumferential shoulder II, which is conventional in bottle structures, is spaced a convenient distance below the thread I3 and the space between the two is entirely free, because, as stated above, it is a primary object of the present invention to dispense with the downwardly extending stop projection which the prior art positions in this space. In accordance with the form of the invention now under consideration, the leading end II of the thread itself acts as a stop projection.

The closure cap of the present invention comprises a top 25, 9. depending skirt 2I, and a rolled or beaded edge 22. A plurality of locking lugs 23 are formed from inwardly struck portions of the beaded edge, and these lugs may conveniently be of the specific type covered by the application of Kramer, referred to above.

In the body of the cap skirt ZI, and above the beaded edge 22, a plurality of supplemental or stop lugs 24 are provided. These lugs comprise substantially circular or oval portions of the skirt whichhave been struck inwardly to substantially the form of a section of a sphere or torus. These lugs can conveniently be formed at the time that the beaded edge of the cap is rolled up, the knurls in the cap skirt are formed, and the locking lugs are struck inwardly, by merely placing one or more supplemental dies in the cap forming machine. It is desirablelthat the supplemental or stop lugs beformed without rupturing the material of the cap'skirt.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, the stop lugs are positioned'a slight space above the beaded edge, and are spaced a substantial distance, circumferentially of th'ecap; from the locking lugs. Thus, when the cap is applied to a receptacle, the locking lug enters under the inclined portion E5 of the thread and draws the cap downwardly into a tight fit upon the receptacle. Upon continued turning movement of the cap, the locking lug passesto a position under the horizontal rear portion I6 of the thread. Further turning movement in that direction is prevented, however, by the engage: ment of the supplemental or stop lug 24 with the end II of the thread. Because of the inclined relation of the end I! of the thread, the lug 24 engages the same in wedging relation, and the cap cannot be removed from the receptacle without applying deliberate force thereto.

An additional advantage which flows from the use of a supplemental or stop lug 24, when positioned in accordance ures 1 to 3 inclusive, is that such lug will prevent a material deformation of the cap skirt if the cap is applied to the receptacle with excessive turning force. With lug caps of the type commonly emturning or unscrewing ployed on divided thread receptacles at the present time, an excessive turning movement tends to spread or expand the portions of the cap adjacent the locking lugs. This spreading 'or expanding tendency is, of course, accompanied by a corresponding collapsing or contracting movement of the cap skirt at sections of the same located be tween the lugs, and adjacent the unthreaded portions of the receptacle neck. Thus, as those portions of the cap skirt adjacent the threads tend to spread outwardly, the intervening portions contract inwardly. Continued distortion permits the locking lug to move outwardly to such a degree'that it rides over, or slips outof engagement with the receptacle thread I The supplemental lugs 24, which substantially contact the receptacle neck at points between the divided threads, restrain this -distortinglor collapsl'ng tendency, and prevent the cap skirt adjacent the locking lugs 23 from being expanded a sufiicient amount or to such a degree that the lugs can ride up over the threads I3.

In the form of the device disclosed in Figures 4 to 8, the receptacle thread I3 is similar to that disclosed in the first form, except it is prowith the disclosure of Figvided on its upper surface with an upwardly projecting stop projection 25. This projection is adapted to cooperate with a stop lug 24 formed in the skirt of the cap in substantial vertical alignment with, but spaced a considerable distance from, the locking lug 23. This stop projection is formed integrally with the thread and projects a sufficient distance above the upper surface thereof to be engaged by the stop lug 24 to limit turning movement of the cap on the receptacle.

The lug 24 is similar to the lug 24 disclosed in the first form of the invention, and difiers therefrom only in its location in the cap skirt. It is preferably spaced vertically from the locking lug 23 a distance substantially equal tothe thickness of the thread l3,

The upwardly extending stop projection 25 is preferably provided with an inclined abutment surface 26 which merges with the upper surface [4 of the lug. As stated above, this inclined abutment surface is important for two reasons and has a dual function. In the first place, it permits the locking lug 23 to ride upwardly over the stop projection in case the cap is applied to the receptacle by the capping machine with the lug positioned above and resting on the upper surface of the thread l3. Obviously, if the abutment surface were substantially vertical, rotation of an improperly positioned cap would cause a jam between the locking lug and the projection on the thread, with the result that either the thread would be broken or the lug mutilated. With the form of thread shown in Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, however, rotation of an improperly positioned cap would result in the lug being guided gently up over the projection and then downwardly past the end 21 of the thread into position to be engaged under the next adjacent divided thread.

The second advantage which flows from the use of the inclined surface 26 on the stop projection 25 is that the stop lug 24' will be engaged in wedging relation thereby. It will be apparent that the increased thickness of the thread at the point where the inclination of the surface 26 begins, will tend to wedge the cap on the thread by engagement of the lugs 2423 on opposite sides of the thread. Thus, it will be impossible for the cap to become accidentally displaced, as deliberate turning movement or unscrewing force will be necessary to remove the same from the receptacle.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail, and although three specific embodiments have been disclosed, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but covers all such modifications as are included in the appended claim.

We claim:

In combination with a container having elongated interrupted threads, a cap having a top and a crimped skirt provided with a rolled edge, inwardly projecting locking lugs of substantially less length than said threads formed in such circumferential relation in the rolled edge that when the cap is applied to the container the skirt will tend to collapse between lugs as the cap is turned to engage the lugs beneath the threads, and supplemental lugs projecting inwardly a distance equal to the inward projection of the locking lugs and of substantially less dimension than the threads, said supplemental lugs formed in the skirt above the locking lugs and so circumferentially spaced with respect thereto and to each other as to prevent collapse of the cap as it is turned on the container to engage the locking lugs under the threads, said supplemental lugs engaging the ends of the threads in end to end relation to limit the turning movement of the cap.

FREDERICK E. FUSTING. EDWARD M. ENKUR. 

